- #1
utkarsh009
- 46
- 0
can anyone tell me about various stages of life of a star? when does a neutron star, supernova, pulsar form?
When do neutron stars, supernovas, and pulsars form during a star's life?
Click For Summary
Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the various stages in the life cycle of stars, specifically focusing on the formation of neutron stars, supernovae, and pulsars. Participants explore the conditions under which these phenomena occur, particularly in relation to the mass of the stars involved.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Technical explanation
- Conceptual clarification
- Homework-related
Main Points Raised
- Some participants note that different sized stars end their lives in different ways, with neutron stars and pulsars typically forming in stars with masses between 1.35 and 2.1 solar masses, while supernovae occur in stars with masses of 1.4 solar masses or greater.
- Another participant elaborates that stars above 8 solar masses can undergo nuclear fusion up to iron and nickel, leading to core instability, core collapse into a neutron star, and the explosion of the outer layers as a supernova.
- A pulsar is described as a neutron star that emits beams of electromagnetic energy and can gain rotational speed by accreting mass from a companion star, potentially becoming a millisecond pulsar.
- Lower mass stars do not form supernovae; instead, they evolve into red giants and ultimately leave behind white dwarf stars.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants generally agree on the stages of stellar evolution and the conditions for the formation of neutron stars, supernovae, and pulsars, but there are variations in the details and emphasis on different mass ranges and processes involved.
Contextual Notes
Some statements depend on specific mass thresholds and may not account for all possible stellar evolution scenarios. The discussion does not resolve the complexities of stellar evolution across different mass ranges.
- #2
The riddler
- 88
- 0
Different sized stars come to different ends, all the stages you have mentioned (neutron star, supernova, pulsar form) happen at the end of a stars life. Neutron stars and Pulsars usually happen in stars between 1.35-2.1 solar masses (mass of the sun) and supernova's 1.4+ solar masses.
Heres a good website about the life cycle of a star: http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org/labs/star_life/starlife_main.html
Hope this helps :)
_____________________________________________________________________________
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvQwXOCKNLY"
Heres a good website about the life cycle of a star: http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org/labs/star_life/starlife_main.html
Hope this helps :)
_____________________________________________________________________________
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvQwXOCKNLY"
Last edited by a moderator:
- #3
qraal
- 789
- 4
utkarsh009 said:
In stars above 8 solar masses a star can cause it's core material to undergo nuclear fusion all the way to iron & nickel. Once they form in sufficient amounts the core becomes unstable because they require more energy to make than they produce by fusion. The core collapses into a super-dense state - neutronium - and an immense amount of gravitational energy is released in a massive burst of neutrinos and a tiny fraction of their energy causes the outer layers of the star to explode into space. That's the supernova, while the neutronium core is a neutron star. A pulsar is a neutron star which is losing it's rotational energy as beams of electromagnetic energy. Some pulsars can be sped up by accreting mass from a nearby star and become what's known as millisecond pulsars.
Lower mass stars don't form supernova. Instead they form red giant stars which blow away most of their mass into space, leaving behind a white dwarf star.
- #4
utkarsh009
- 46
- 0
the riddler mentioned the best ever sites with all information and also interactive quizzes. thank you! but there is no information about pulsar. and for pulsar qraal just did what i had expected. thanks to you too! wow now i won't be confused in this part, at least. and again the quizzes on the sites were very good. 
- #5
qraal
- 789
- 4
utkarsh009 said:the riddler mentioned the best ever sites with all information and also interactive quizzes. thank you! but there is no information about pulsar. and for pulsar qraal just did what i had expected. thanks to you too! wow now i won't be confused in this part, at least. and again the quizzes on the sites were very good.
You're welcome :-)
Any more questions, just ask away. Most of us are pretty friendly around here.
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